Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta Annual Report 2011-12

Canada and the First Nations Historical TimelineTreaty 8 Special Education PolicyThe Treaty 8 Special Education Policy will develop, deliver and evaluate Special Education programs andservices for children with Special Needs so they will reach their full potential. The policy is compiled of fourmain components; accountability, assessment, Individual Education Plan, and Intervention. Within these maincomponents are individual policies following a holistic view in education. The entire child, family, and communitycelebrate the life-long learning process. The policy is inclusive of language and culture and honors the need torevitalize, acquire, retain and maintain language through the implementation of language programs developedby Elders, education and cultural experts. The policy is an umbrella policy which is implemented in all FirstNation schools, but is flexible to accommodate specific school policies. The Treaty 8 Special Education policywas passed and accepted by the Executive Board of Chiefs on October 27, 2006. The policy was published anddistributed to all Treaty 8 First Nation schools in preparation for the 2007 / 2008 school year.Treaty 8 Special Education FrameworkThe Special Education Framework ensures First Nation language and culture programming, individualizedacademic programming, and appropriate resources be provided in all First Nation schools. The framework isholistic and set within a life-long learning process. The scope of the framework is to improve the quality of SpecialEducation programming to promote, maintain, and support a First Nation Comprehensive Education System. TheTreaty 8 Special Education Framework was passed and accepted by the Executive Board of Chiefs on October27, 2006. The validation of the Special Education Framework will result in Treaty 8 Special Education adhering toall concepts, values, and practices that constitute a way of viewing reality.Special Education Strategic PlanningA Special Education Strategic Planning session was requested by the Treaty 8 Executive Board of Chiefs and washeld in March 2007. The purpose of the session was to provide guidance and direction for Special Education.Special Education welcomed the idea of providing the strategic planning session and facilitated the sessioninternally. A questionnaire was sent to all First Nation schools in order to collect and provide current informationand data. The questionnaire provided information to begin analyzing special needs and identifying challengeswithin Treaty 8 First Nation schools. The questionnaires were tabulated and the analysis was presented to theExecutive Board of Chiefs. Five actions plans were developed as a result of the strategic planning session.These action plans will promote success in the area of Special Education for Treaty 8 Alberta.Action items:1. Increase capacity in Special Education and decrease amount of money First Nation schools spend annuallyon assessments2. Provide Special Education in-service training for Teacher Assistants, Special Needs Assistant3. Secure funding and provide equal funding for Treaty 8 Special Education4. Treaty 8 will educate communities to promote elimination of FASDa. An FASD community presentation was developed and approved by the Executive Board of Chiefs. TheFASD presentation is available upon request by community or school5. Provide access to a Treaty 8 web based IPP and school data baseTerms of ReferenceSpecial Education Terms of Reference was approved by Treaty 8 Executive Board of Chiefs October 2008. Amotion was passed on October 27, 2006 stating “that the Executive Board of Treaty 8 First Nations of Albertasupport the development of a Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta Regional Management Organization (RMO)”.Page 18